Puerto Rico Diving Suggestions

[divernva]

Mandy3206, Thanks for the valuable information. Unfortunately, this will be a company sponsored trip and we only have one day to dive... We'll probably dive from Humacao. Sea Ventures provides transportation from the hotel and the cost includes rentals for my co-workers. So it sounds like they are a good fit for our needs.

What type of wetsuit would be appropriate for the current water temps?

Thanks!

 

[rje634]

Thanks rje634,

Do they pump nitrox for some the deeper dives?

I don't remember them offering nitrox when I was there. This was before my nitrox cert.

 

[rje634]

I went with Copamarina about 5 yrs ago but the operation was run by other people, I heard that since I dove with them, there have been at least 3 new owners, don't know for sure.
What I do know is that they visit same sites as Parguera Divers and Paradise Scuba. Copamarina is located in Guanica, next to Lajas in the southwest, so I did probably save a buck and go with Paradise Scuba or Parguera Divers.

Yes sounds like that's not off base, although the people running the place were very nice to us they didn't seem to happy with their employer. Seems to be one of those high turn over shops.
We were staying at the resort so it was very convenient to roll out of bed and on to the boat, expensive, but convenient..
Question: I thought it was owned by Sea Ventures, or has it not always been owned by Sea Ventures? I thought that Sea Ventures just contracted people to run it for them.

 

[Mandy3206]

Mandy3206, Thanks for the valuable information. Unfortunately, this will be a company sponsored trip and we only have one day to dive... We'll probably dive from Humacao. Sea Ventures provides transportation from the hotel and the cost includes rentals for my co-workers. So it sounds like they are a good fit for our needs.

What type of wetsuit would be appropriate for the current water temps?

Thanks!

Well, I get cold really easy so I use a 3mm full body wetsuit, but you guys from the north may even get away with a T-shirt and trunks.

Average water temp is around 78deg to 82deg most of the time, hope this helps.

Make sure you post some feedback from that operation 'cause I would like to dive with the Humacao operation sometime.

 

[Mandy3206]

Yes sounds like that's not off base, although the people running the place were very nice to us they didn't seem to happy with their employer. Seems to be one of those high turn over shops.
We were staying at the resort so it was very convenient to roll out of bed and on to the boat, expensive, but convenient..
Question: I thought it was owned by Sea Ventures, or has it not always been owned by Sea Ventures? I thought that Sea Ventures just contracted people to run it for them.

The resort is 5 star quality, and very nice beach.

Not sure about your question, 'cause I dove there just to try the operation.

Since its more expensive than Paradise Scuba or Parguera Divers and they do the same dive sites, I prefer going with the later and save a buck or two, if I'm staying at the resort, I'll definetely dive the resort operation for the same reasons you did.

 

[rje634]

Not sure about your question, 'cause I dove there just to try the operation.

Just wondering if you might have any inside informtion. I would like to go back to Copamarina but I'd like to know if the dive shop has gotten their act together before I do.

 

[Mandy3206]

Not sure about your question, 'cause I dove there just to try the operation.
QUOTE]
Just wondering if you might have any inside informtion. I would like to go back to Copamarina but I'd like to know if the dive shop has gotten their act together before I do.

Going back to Copamarina denotes a very good taste, congrats.

Sorry I can't elaborate more about their current operation.

 

[scubawife]

We were there in August of 2004 and although the resort and resort staff were great, the dive op, Sea Ventures Dive Copamarina was a disaster! Horrible management and very unprofessional staff. Staff talks badly and inappropriately about the owner and manager to customers, and the manager screwed up our schedule so we only got to dive 2 of the 5 days we'd paid for. What really left us ticked off is that she would not even come and appologize or make any attempt to make good. When we walked into the shop she left through the gear room to avoid us. Two of the staff told us that we had done everything we needed to and were not at fault, and they weren't the least big surprised it happened, nor did they offer to do anything for us (like help us set up dives with another shop and pay for it with our prepaid dive fees). Had ANYONE on the dive shop staff just appologized and attempted to offer us anything to make-good, we'd have chalked it up to bad luck and had no hard feelings. The manager had a note on her desk of us diving, along with our prepaid vouchers that noted our diving dates too, but didn't write it in the "official book," so when she had 2 days off, the staff told the captain there was nobody diving. He knew we were diving and even asked the DM to call our room or find us and confirm. That never happened. Maduro refunded us the unused dives with no questions when I contacted them when we got home.

The full time Captain quit and they hadn't hired anyone. It's an island, it was over 2 months since the guy quit and they couldn't get a full time captain? The last one quit because the owner tried to make him go out with divers and snorkelers during a tropical storm warning when their was an island wide caution boat advisory. The part time Captain was really the best part of the operation. Too bad he doesn't run the shop.

The few dives we did were nice, but nothing to rush back for. We enjoyed the resort. Very quiet and laid back. Sea Ventures does a great resort a real disservice by not coming even close to the service and attitude of the property and it's staff.

 

[rje634]

We were there in August of 2004 and although the resort and resort staff were great, the dive op, Sea Ventures Dive Copamarina was a disaster! Horrible management and very unprofessional staff. Staff talks badly and inappropriately about the owner and manager to customers, and the manager screwed up our schedule so we only got to dive 2 of the 5 days we'd paid for. What really left us ticked off is that she would not even come and appologize or make any attempt to make good. When we walked into the shop she left through the gear room to avoid us. Two of the staff told us that we had done everything we needed to and were not at fault, and they weren't the least big surprised it happened, nor did they offer to do anything for us (like help us set up dives with another shop and pay for it with our prepaid dive fees). Had ANYONE on the dive shop staff just appologized and attempted to offer us anything to make-good, we'd have chalked it up to bad luck and had no hard feelings. The manager had a note on her desk of us diving, along with our prepaid vouchers that noted our diving dates too, but didn't write it in the "official book," so when she had 2 days off, the staff told the captain there was nobody diving. He knew we were diving and even asked the DM to call our room or find us and confirm. That never happened. Maduro refunded us the unused dives with no questions when I contacted them when we got home.

The full time Captain quit and they hadn't hired anyone. It's an island, it was over 2 months since the guy quit and they couldn't get a full time captain? The last one quit because the owner tried to make him go out with divers and snorkelers during a tropical storm warning when their was an island wide caution boat advisory. The part time Captain was really the best part of the operation. Too bad he doesn't run the shop.

The few dives we did were nice, but nothing to rush back for. We enjoyed the resort. Very quiet and laid back. Sea Ventures does a great resort a real disservice by not coming even close to the service and attitude of the property and it's staff.

Wow, I thought our experience was bad!!
Same thing resort was very nice, dive shop, well....
I guess they haven't gotten their act together yet..
Thanks for the heads up.

 

[cybertia]

does paradise scuba have a website? do you know if they have nitrox?

Avoid Scuba Centro at all costs, the crew and personel are good people, but the owner is the most arrogant, stubborn Son of a Gun you may find, I've tried to talk to the guy on 3 ocasions and the conversation lasted less than 5 min, God, I hate arrogant people.

Try Sea Gypsy Charters operates in the Fajardo area (near Paradisus), Tito (Hector) is a really great guy and wil treat you like Royalty, also you can call Rafi at La Casa Del Buzo for dive trips.
Kurt at Puerto Rico Divers Supply in Fajardo (near Paradisus) runs a good operation also

Amaury at Akuasport can book you some dive trips at great prices.

At the Southwest, Paradise Scuba and Parguera Divers are neighbors at La Parguera in Lajas and both will treat you with a very profesional operation.

Avoid Taino Divers in Rincon, I've heard about safety issues and they cancel me once a 4 week in advance reserved 3 day trip alegating bad weather and took out 6 dive trips in those days, they made more money with the 6 trips than the 3 day trip that I reserved, I hate being lied.

PM me if you like and I can dive with you if you want or call any of the sugested above for prices and itinerarys, any excuse is good for going diving, anything to break the routine.